Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2013 The spread of volcanic ash from Mount Anak\nKrakatau has disrupted flights across several parts of Indonesia. The\nsituation is not merely a matter of visibility, but relates to the risk\nof damage to aircraft engines and components.<\/p>\n
Mount Anak Krakatau erupted again in early September 2026. The\nvolcanic ash subsequently spread to several regions in Java and Sumatra,\nincluding Jakarta. The condition forced a number of airports to\ntemporarily suspend flight operations as a safety measure.<\/p>\n
On 6 September 2026, ash clouds were reported to reach altitudes of\nup to around 50,000 feet on the Sumatra side. As a result, more than\n1,500 flights and roughly 170,000 passengers were affected at several\nairports.<\/p>\n
Volcanic ash is not ordinary dust<\/p>\n
Volcanic ash consists of fragments of rock, minerals and volcanic\nmaterial of very small size. These particles are abrasive in nature and\ncan be carried by wind over great distances from the eruption\nsource.<\/p>\n
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), volcanic ash\ncan pose a serious threat to aviation even when aircraft are far from\nthe volcano. High-concentration ash clouds can reduce visibility, damage\naircraft systems and cause interference with jet engines.<\/p>\n
Consequently, an aircraft does not need to be directly above Mount\nAnak Krakatau to be affected. As long as a flight path has the potential\nto intersect with an ash cloud, routes can be diverted or flights\ntemporarily suspended.<\/p>\n
One of the greatest risks comes from the possibility of volcanic ash\nentering jet engines.<\/p>\n
When an aircraft passes through an ash cloud, particles can be sucked\ninto the engine. Because temperatures in certain parts of the engine are\nextremely high, the ash material can melt and then re-deposit on cooler\nengine components.<\/p>\n
These deposits can disrupt airflow and engine performance. The\nabrasive nature of ash can also erode components, increasing the risk of\ndamage. In certain conditions, engines can even lose thrust or suffer a\nflameout.<\/p>\n
Aircraft can lose engine power<\/p>\n
This danger has already materialised in a number of aviation\nincidents.<\/p>\n
The USGS records one serious case in 1982, when a Boeing 747 flew\nthrough an ash cloud resulting from the eruption of Mount Galunggung in\nIndonesia. The aircraft lost power in all four engines and descended\napproximately 25,000 feet before three engines were successfully\nrestarted. The aircraft ultimately landed safely in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
USGS data also shows that of 129 documented encounters between\naircraft and volcanic ash clouds up to 2009, 79 caused varying degrees\nof damage to the airframe or engines. Nine incidents even involved\nengine failure while the aircraft was in flight.<\/p>\n
The danger of volcanic ash does not stop at the engines. Abrasive\nparticles can scratch aircraft windscreens, reducing pilot\nvisibility.<\/p>\n
Ash can also interfere with aircraft systems and accelerate wear on\nvarious components. Even at lower concentrations, exposure to ash and\nvolcanic aerosols can accelerate engine and component wear,\nnecessitating more frequent maintenance.<\/p>\n
These conditions mean flights must remain cautious even when ash\nconcentrations do not appear very thick from the ground.<\/p>\n
Why not simply fly higher?<\/p>\n
Volcanic ash clouds do not sit at one specific altitude. The material\ncan spread across various layers of the atmosphere and be carried by\nwind in different directions.<\/p>\n
In the latest Anak Krakatau eruption, for instance, ash was observed\nreaching altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. Because the spread can reach\naircraft cruising levels, simply raising or lowering altitude is not\nnecessarily a solution.<\/p>\n
Pilots and air traffic controllers must consider the location,\naltitude, concentration and direction of movement of ash clouds before\ndetermining whether a flight path is safe.<\/p>\n
Volcanic ash is not always easy to see<\/p>\n
Ash clouds also have characteristics that make them difficult to\nidentify by sight alone.<\/p>\n
The USGS states that volcanic ash can reduce visibility and is not\nalways easy to distinguish from ordinary clouds. Therefore, information\nfrom satellites, volcano monitoring, atmospheric reports and\ncoordination between aviation authorities becomes critically\nimportant.<\/p>\n
This explains why the decision to close airports or divert flights\ncan be taken even when weather conditions around the airport appear\nrelatively normal.<\/p>\n
Airport closures are carried out as a precautionary measure when the\nash spread is deemed capable of endangering flight operations.<\/p>\n
Following the development of the Anak Krakatau eruption, a number of\nairports were affected and flights had to be suspended or adjusted.\nLatest reports also indicate that eight airports were affected by the\nvolcanic ash spread.<\/p>\n
Such decisions aim to prevent aircraft from entering areas with\ndangerous ash concentrations. Delaying flights may indeed leave\npassengers stranded or disrupt travel schedules, but the measure is\ntaken to reduce a far greater safety risk.<\/p>\n
Safety is the priority<\/p>\n
Flight bans during volcanic ash threats do not mean aircraft are\nincapable of handling bad weather. Volcanic ash has different\ncharacteristics because it can enter engines, disrupt aircraft systems\nand cause serious damage.<\/p>\n
Previous aviation cases show that encounters between aircraft and ash\nclouds can end in loss of engine power. Therefore, when the ash from\nMount Anak Krakatau enters flight paths, diversion, delay or temporary\nsuspension of flights becomes part of safety procedures.<\/p>\n
In short, volcanic ash can render aircraft unable to fly not only\nbecause it obstructs visibility, but because it can damage engines and\naircraft components to the point of causing loss of thrust. Monitoring\nthe spread of ash is essential so that aircraft do not enter risky\nairspace, as summarised from various sources.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/volcanic-ash-poses-danger-to-aircraft-here-is-why-flights-are-suspended-1788796411", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }